What First Amendment?

In another slap in the face of our constitution…

A federal appeals court has ruled that the White House can, at its discretion, exclude the Associated Press from access to restricted areas such as the Oval Office, Mar-a-Lago, and Air Force One. This decision overturns a lower court's injunction that had previously prevented the administration from doing so. The appeals court's reasoning was based on the finding that certain White House spaces are not accessible to the general public or large media groups, thus allowing the White House to select which journalists it grants access to. This ruling marks a significant setback for the Associated Press, which has been striving to maintain traditional norms of press access and ensure the unrestricted flow of information from the White House.

The verdict has been celebrated by President Donald Trump, who publicly declared it a "big WIN over AP." His press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, echoed this sentiment, stating that the Associated Press is not entitled to "special access" to these exclusive locations. In response, a spokesperson for the Associated Press expressed disappointment with the court's decision and indicated that the news organization is currently exploring its legal options. The AP has consistently argued that imposing punitive restrictions on White House correspondents is unconstitutional.

This legal battle is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to assert greater control over press access. Earlier this year, the administration took over the process of determining which news outlets would be part of the daily press "pool" that travels with the President. This "pool" system is crucial for covering events that occur in smaller settings, such as Oval Office photo opportunities and impromptu question-and-answer sessions on Air Force One. Historically, the composition of the press "pool" was managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association, an independent body representing the press corps. However, the Trump press operation has now assumed this responsibility, prioritizing newer, often conservative and pro-Trump media outlets, and noticeably reducing access for the Associated Press.